The Ordway is home to four performing organizations – The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera, the Schubert Club (who also has a museum housed in the Landmark Center) and the Ordway, which hosts traveling shows and Broadway @ Ordway. Here, we share events we are excited to see coming soon and reviews of shows.
ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT CALL THE ORDWAY HOME:
Upcoming Family-Friendly Shows
Ordway Inside Out presents Schubert Club - Sunday, May 7, 2023
Rice Park, 109 West 4th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
The Schubert Club presents all 7 of The Kanneh-Masons siblings together in the U.S. for the first time. The musicians play a live concert at the Ordway at 3pm. The show will screened FREE for the public at Rice Park at 6pm. Purchase tickets to the 3pm show here.
The Ordway Inside Out is an initiative to bring Ordway performances to a wider audience by streaming videos onto a giant video wall in Rice Park.pm6p
A showcase of youth choral music reflecting our diverse communities that celebrates 10 years of ComMUSICation – a music program for local youth. • FREE.
Flint Hills Family Festival - June 2-3, 2023
Ordway Inside Out presents St. Paul Chamber Orchestra - Sunday, June 9, 2023
Rice Park, 109 West 4th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
View a FREE Livestream of SPCO’s season finale featuring Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony. 8pm.
The Ordway Inside Out is an initiative to bring Ordway performances to a wider audience by streaming videos onto a giant video wall in Rice Park.
Ordway Inside Out presents Taiko Drumming, July 15, 2023
Rice Park, 109 West 4th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Watch a FREE 20-minute live presentation of Taiko Drumming, followed by a screening of Finding Her Beat documentary. 7:30pm.
The Ordway Inside Out is an initiative to bring Ordway performances to a wider audience by streaming videos onto a giant video wall in Rice Park.
Ordway Inside Out presents MN Opera performance of The Song Poet, August 11, 2023
Rice Park, 109 West 4th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Watch a FREE stream of the world premiere of The Song Poet by Kao Kalia Yang. 7:30pm.
The Ordway Inside Out is an initiative to bring Ordway performances to a wider audience by streaming videos onto a giant video wall in Rice Park.
Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (To Cross the Face of the Moon) • November 4-12 2023
Minnesota Opera @ Ordway Center for Performing Arts, 345 Washington Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
The World’s first mariachi opera follows three generations of the Velásquez family, who are separated by the U.S./Mexican border. A modern story that “reminds us that family knows no borders”. • Read more about age recommendations, length/intermissions & language here • Get Tickets.
Come from Away is a musical based on the events in the Canadian town of Gander during the week following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when planes were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport. First produced in Ontario in 2013, the musical had record-breaking runs in San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Toronto before opening on Broadway in 2017. Come From Away was nominated for seven Tony Awards® and won Best Direction of a Musical for Christopher Ashley. It is the longest-running Canadian musical in Broadway history.
Best for Ages 10+.
Single ticket purchases will go on sale in the summer. Find more information and/or sign up for updates here.
I (Gianna) saw this show when it was at the Orpheum Theatre in January 2022. The show has the best, uplifting music of most shows I have ever been to. With a folk band playing in a rock-style, every toe was tapping and every hand was clapping. Pilots are singing about flying, parents are trying to call home, people are falling in love, dogs and cats are being rescued, passengers are begging in song to be let off the plane.
As a Gen Xer, 9/11 hits me hard. I remember that day and the following days so well. Except there were stories we never would have thought about, and Come from Away is one of those collections of stories. It will have you laughing and crying (and for some of us ugly crying like our whole section that was bawling).
While most of the show is very appropriate for kids (there’s a little language and a flashing-but-still-fully-covered scene), for those of us who lived those days, you may not want to have to explain what’s going on or answer questions in real time. However, I think kids will learn a lot at this show. And it’s got message about being scared and still doing the right thing. It’s so good.
A new production of Peter Pan directed by Lonny Price with additional book by Larissa FastHorse will premiere at the Ordway Dec. 5-31, 2023
“I am thrilled to be part of bringing Peter Pan to life for a new generation,” said playwright Larissa FastHorse. “If you loved this musical before, you will still see the show that enchanted you, while discovering a Peter Pan that everyone can enjoy, without harm, for many years to come.”
The new musical will continue to feature timeless songs including: “I’m Flying”, “I Gotta Crow”, “I Won’t Grow Up” and “Neverland.”
Single ticket purchases will go on sale in the summer. Find more information and/or sign up for updates here.
The Elixir of Love - January 27–February 4, 2024
Minnesota Opera @ Ordway Center for Performing Arts, 345 Washington Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Young Nemorino drinks a love potion to try to win the heart of the beautiful Adina • Read more about age recommendations, length/intermissions & language here • Get Tickets.
Trouble in Tahiti & Service Provider - March 9-23, 2024
Minnesota Opera @ Ordway Center for Performing Arts, 345 Washington Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Two short operas with themes that make this show best for teens & tweens. • Read more about age recommendations, length/intermissions & language here • Get Tickets.
Hairspray is a musical based on John Water’s 1988 film of the same name. The musical first opened in Seattle in 2002, opening on Broadway later that year. Hairspray won eight Tony Awards®, including Best Musical. The show has had several national tours and foreign productions, including a West End show. It was adapted into a musical film in 2007.
Best for Ages 8+.
Single ticket purchases will go on sale in the summer. Find more information and/or sign up for updates here.
On Your Feet! is a musical based on the lives and music of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. It opened on Broadway in 2015 and received several award nominations, including a Tony Award® nomination for Best Choreography. It has had several tours and productions on the West End and in the Netherlands.
Best for Ages 8+.
Single ticket purchases will go on sale in the summer. Find more information and/or sign up for updates here.
La Bohème - May 4–12, 2024
Minnesota Opera @ Ordway Center for Performing Arts, 345 Washington Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
A classic love story between to poor Bohemians in Paris. • Read more about age recommendations, length/intermissions & language here • Get Tickets.
From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over. SIX won 23 awards in the 2021-2022 Broadway season, including the Tony Award® for Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.
Best for Ages 10+.
Single ticket purchases will go on sale in the summer. Find more information and/or sign up for updates here.
MORE KID-FRIENDLY THEATER & MUSIC
Kid-Friendly Theater, Music and Performing Arts in the Twin Cities
Plan ahead to take kids to the theatre! We love finding kid-friendly theater, music and all the performing arts. We also recognize live shows can take some pre-planning. We’ll keep a running list of current and upcoming performances on this page so you can peruse ahead and pick your favorites. The lovely thing about children’s